Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-08
CHAPTER VI.-THE NIGHT WEARS ON.

good fight. Ismell blood tell thee smell
| blood.'
| CHAPTER VI.-THE NIGHT WEARS ON.
AS may be imagined, at the very first
sign or Nasal, the entire population OF
the Mission Station had sought refuge in
side the stout stone wall, and were now tic
be seen-men, women, and countless chill
dren-huddled together in little groups,
and all talking at once, in awed tones, of
the awfulness Of Nasal manners and GUS
toms, and of the fate that they had to ex-
peot II those bloodthirsty sayages succeed
ed in getting over the stone wall.
| Immediately after we had settled upon
the outline Of our plan Of action, as sug-
gested by Umslopogaas, Mr. Mackenzie
sent for four sharp boys of from twelve to
fifteen years of age, and dispatched them
to various points from whence they could
keep an outlook upon the Nasal camp,
with orders to report, from time to time,
what was going on. Other lads and even
women, were stationed at intervals along
the wall, in order to guard against the
possibility of surprise.
| After this the twenty men who formed
his whole available fighting force were
summoned by OUT host into the square
| formed by the house, and there, standing
by the bOle Of the great confer, he earnest
| ly addressed them and our four ASkari
Indeed, it formed very impressive scene
| one not likely to be forgotten by any
body who witnessed it. Immediately by
the tree stood the angular form of Mr..
Mackenzie, one arm OutStretched as he
talked, and the other resting against the
giant bole, his hat off, his plain but kindly
face clearly betraying the anguish of his
mind. Next to him was his poor wife, who
was seated on q chair, her face hidden in
her hand. On the other side Of her was
AlphOnse, looking exceedingly uncomfOrt-
able, and behind her stood the three of us,
with Umslopogaas grim and towering
form in the background, resting, as usual
on his ak. In front, stood and squatted
the group of armed men-some with rifles
in their hands, and others with spears and
shieldS-fOllowing with eager attention
every word that fell from the speakers lips
The white light of the moon peering in
beneath the lofty boughs threw strange
and weird glamour over the scene, while
the melancholy soughing of the night-wind
passing through the millions of pine nee
dies overhead, added a sadness Of it's own to
what was already a sufficiently tragic occa-
sion.
"Men," said Mr.. Mackenzie, after he had
put all the circumstances of the case fully
and clearly before them, and explained to
them the proposed plan of our forlorn hope
-"men, for years L have been good friend
to We, protecting ye, teaching We, guarding
We and yours from harm, and We have pros
pered with me. Ye have seen my child
the Waterlily, as We call her-grow year by
year, from tenderest infancy to tender
childhood, and from childhood on toward
maidenhood. She has been your children's
playmate, she has helped to tend We when
sick, and We have loved her."
1--WE have" said a deep voice, "and we
will die to save her,
81 thank We from my heart-I thank We.
Sure am that now in this hour of darkest
trouble; now that her young life is like to
be cut off by cruel and savage men-vho
Of a truth know not what they do'-ye will
strive your best to save her, and to save me
and her mother from broken hearts.
Think, too, Of your own wives and chill
dren. If she dies, her death will be fol-
lowed by an attack upon us here, and, at
the best, even if we hold our own, your
houses and gardens will be DESTROYED, and
your goods and cattle swept away. I am,
| as We well know, a man Of peace. Never
| in all these years have lifted my hand to
shed mans blood; but now l say strike!
strike in the name of God, who babe us
protect our lives and homes. Swear to
me- he went on with added fervor-
| ''swear to me that whilst man Of We re-
mains alive We will strive your uttermost
with me and these brave white men to
save the child from bloody and a cruel
| deathr'
"Say no more, my father" said the same
| deep voice, that belonged to stalwart
elder of the Mission; I'VE swear it. May
we and ours die the death of dogs, and cur
| bones be thrown to the jackals and the
| kites if we break the oath! 1t is a fearful
thing to do, my father, so few to strike so
many, yet we will do it or die in the doing.
| We swearl
cay, so say we all, }" chimed in the others.
$50 say we all,'' said L
| "It is WE'LL went on Mr. Mackenzie.
'Ye are true men and not broken reeds to
lean on. And now, friends-white and
black together-let us kneel and offer I'D
our humble supplication to the Throne of
| Power, praying that He in the hollow of
| whose hand lie all our lives, who giyeth
life and giveth death; may He be pleased
to make strong our hands that we may
prevail in what awaits us at the morning.
| light
And he knelt down, an example that we
all followed, except Umslopogaas, who
still stood in the background, grimly lean
| ing on his ak. The fierce old Zulu had no
gods, and worshipped nought, unless it
were his battle-ax.
''Oh God of gods!' began the clergyman,
his deep voice tremulous with emotion;